FLOOD10403 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

d479/chap1.doc 08/12/98 1-2 I I I I I II I I I I , I , I I I I 1 I planning and disaster management. 1his planning and management an be applied not only to the 13 counties specifically addressed here, but to other regions throughout the state that may experience similar storm events the future. Several of the significant storms specifically addressed' this document are shown in Table 1.2-1. This document will provide resi ents, others affected by flooding, and agencies and entities involved in post flood study and mitigation with basic information about the flooding a d its impacts. The weather patterns observed, the hydrology described, a d the damage recorded will serve as a baseline for managing future flo ding events, and will pinpoint problem areas deserving of preventive miti tion. In. these ways, the information in the document will contrib e to preliminary decisions about flood hazard mitigation. 1.3 Study Au horization It is the responsibility of the CWCB (Colorado Water Conservation oard) "...to devise and formulate methods, means and plans for bringing abo t the greater utilization of the waters of the state and the prevention of flood damages therefrom..." To this end, work on this project was authorize and funded by the CWCB through an agreement dated March 13/ 1998, wi RTi (Riverside Technology, inc.). In consultation with the Colorado ater Conservation Board and a variety of federal, state, and local agencie / RTi conducted the study and produced the subsequent document, a r lated Internet web page, and an interactive compact disk as a set of verse education and planning tools to be used statewide. 1.4 General tudy Area The 13 counties that were subject to the most damage during the 1997 flood season are shown in Figure 1.1-1. All are located east of the Con' ental Divide, both in northeastern and southeastern Colorado. Most of e 13 counties are located on the plains east of Denver, where annual precipi tion ranges from 7 to 15 inches, compared to several storms that produced more than 10 inches of total precipitation in July and August 1997 (Table 1.2- ). These counties are situated in four river basins within the state: the outh Platte River, Arkansas River, Republican River, and Cimmaron River b sins. Larimer, Logan, Weld, Morgan, Oear Creek, and portions of ffib Lincoln counties all have drainage tributaries to the South Platte Crowley, Kiowa, Otero, and Prowers counties have drainage tribu the Arkansas River, and portions of ffibert, Lincoln, and Baca counti within the Arkansas River basin. . Phillips and parts of Lincoln and counties have drainage tributaries to the Republican River. And a s of Baca County has drainage tributaries to the Cimmaron River (S Colorado and FEMA 1997).